Frustration with Rheumatologists
I have wondered if anyone has issues with getting a quality rheumatologist in your area. I live outside of a metropolitan area, yet there are very few good rheumatologists here. My current rheumatologist will not prescribe pain meds AT ALL, which I find ridiculous given that the majority of patients they see live with pain on a daily basis. My overall well-being has been impacted because I have daily pain that is wearing me down. It isn't significant pain, but it is enough to interfere with sleep and everyday work. I had some hope when I asked my PCP if there was a rheumatologist she could recommend, and she said yes. She did the referral, and this rheumatologist has great online reviews, but I was so disappointed to have to wait until September to see her. I don't understand why it takes so long to get a first appointment. When I go to this doctor's website, it automatically shows her next available appointments, and they show availability in June. I'm assuming it's only for established patients but geez! Seems like there would be new patient availability before September!
Hi @storsie, I can hear your frustration. Many of our community members have said they have needed to see two if not more, rheumatologists to get the care they deserve. I wanted to let you know that The National Psoriasis Foundation has a list of health care professionals that can be filtered by location: https://www.psoriasis.org/health-care-provider-directory/.
I really hope this can help you and get you an appointment sooner. Wishing you all the best.
Jill, Team MemberYikes! No one comes up on this list within 100 miles of my area. That is a huge downer. 🙁
Hi @storsie. I have heard from other members that the list is not well-maintain. It's a good starting point, but there may very well be specialists in your area who are not on the list. You could try calling the different practices and asking whether any of the doctors specialize in PsA. If you still can't find anyone, it might be worth the 90 minute drive to seek out a good doctor. Where I live, that's the norm. Most specialist are one to two hours away. I hope you find a compassionate doctor who gives you the treatment you deserve. Best wishes! - Lori (Team Member)
